by REERA YOO
South Korea reminded its citizens Friday that waving North Korean flags during the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon will be strictly prohibited, according to Yonhap.
North Korean flags will not be hoisted on the streets of Incheon, and all South Korean citizens are banned from bringing the flag into the stadium.
Officials from The Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office, National Intelligence Service and Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism decided on the ban in a meeting Monday, as reported by The Chosun Ilbo. However, officials agreed to allowing the communist state’s flag be displayed inside the stadium and the athlete’s village.
This is not the first time the North Korean flag issue has sparked controversy as the South Korean government enforced the ban during the 2002 Busan Asian Games.
According to The Chosun Ilbo, the ban originates from the 1948 National Security Law, which makes the recognition of North Korea as a political entity illegal.
With the opening of the 2014 Asian Games just a week away, North Korea has already started sending their 237-member delegation to Incheon.
North Korean athletes will be allowed to raise their flags during sporting events and award ceremonies, but South Koreans who are caught in possession of a North Korean flag will face criminal charges.
Photo courtesy of Lee Jin-man/AP.
